Router and IOS Basics
Cisco routers and CLI
Lecture 4 – Router and IOS Basics
To properly understand the lecture and to prepare for the quiz
on Router and IOS Basics in your next class, you should have
completed the following before coming to class:
1. Watched the video and pre-read the remaining lecture for
the class.
2. Read the relevant Chapters.
3. Read the summary at the end of the chapter.
4. Reviewed all of the Exam Essentials.
5. Answered all the chapter review questions.
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Perform POST and Load Bootstrap
Program
When a Cisco router powers up, it performs a power-on self test
(POST).
During this self test, the router executes diagnostics from ROM on
all hardware modules.
After the POST, the following events occur as the router initializes:
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Locate and Load the Cisco IOS
Software
The bootstrap program locates the Cisco IOS software and loads it into
RAM. Cisco IOS files can be located in one of three places: flash memory, a
TFTP server, or another location indicated in the startup configuration file.
By default, the Cisco IOS software loads from flash memory. The
configuration settings must be changed to load from one of the other
locations.
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Locate and Execute the Startup
Configuration
After the Cisco IOS software is loaded, the bootstrap program searches for
the startup configuration file in NVRAM. This file contains the previously
saved configuration commands and parameters, including interface
addresses, routing information, passwords, and other configuration
parameters.
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Initial startup of Cisco routers
Note: If the startup configuration file does not exist in NVRAM, the
router may search for a TFTP server.
If the router detects that it has an active link to another configured
router, it sends a broadcast searching for a configuration file across
the active link. This condition will cause the router to pause, but you
will eventually see a console message like the following one:
<router pauses here while it broadcasts for a configuration file across an active link>
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
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Initial startup of Cisco routers
When booting a router that does not contain a startup configuration
file, you will see the following question after the IOS has been
loaded:
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
Setup mode will not be used in this course to configure the router.
When prompted to enter setup mode, always answer no. If you
answer yes and enter setup mode, you can press Ctrl-C at any time
to terminate the setup process.
You can also enter the setup mode by typing in the command setup
When setup mode is not used, the IOS creates a default running-
config. The default running-config is a basic configuration file that
includes the router interfaces, management interfaces, and certain
default information. The default running-config does not contain any
interface addresses, routing information, passwords, or other
specific configuration information..
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Config Files
The startup configuration file is the saved configuration file that sets the
properties of the device each time the device is powered up. This file is
stored in non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), meaning that it is saved even
when power to the device is turned off.
When a Cisco router is first powered up, it loads the Cisco IOS software
to working memory, or RAM. Next, the startup configuration file is
copied from NVRAM to RAM. When the startup configuration file is
loaded into RAM, the file becomes the initial running configuration. This
file is NOT saved when power to the device is turned off.
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Location of the Cisco IOS
IOS stored in Flash
Non-volatile storage – not lost when power is lost
Can be changed or overwritten as needed
Can be used to store multiple versions of IOS
IOS copied from flash to volatile RAM
Quantity of flash and RAM memory determines IOS that can be
used
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Router user interface
The Cisco IOS software uses a command-line interface
(CLI) as the traditional console environment.
This environment is accessible through several methods:
Console – out-of-band
AUX port (modem) – out-of-band
Telnet/SSH
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Out-of-band Management
Out-of-band management
requires a computer to be directly
connected to the console port or
auxiliary port (AUX) of the
network device being configured.
Does not require the local
network connections on the
device to be active.
Used to initially configure a
network device.
Also useful when the network
connectivity is not functioning
correctly and the device cannot
be reached over the network.
Requires a terminal emulation
client installed on the PC.
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In-band Management
Used to monitor and make
configuration changes to a
network device over a network
connection.
For a computer to connect to the
device and perform in-band
management tasks, at least one
network interface on the device
must be connected to the network
and be operational.
Either Telnet, HTTP (using
SDM/CPP) or SSH can be used
to access a Cisco device.
A web browser or a Telnet/SSH
client program can be used to
monitor the network device or
make configuration changes.
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Navigating the IOS
User EXEC Mode
The User EXEC mode allows only a
limited number of basic monitoring
Limited examination of router.
Remote access. commands and is often referred to
as view-only mode.
Switch>
Router>
Privileged EXEC Mode
The Privileged EXEC mode, by
default, allows all monitoring Detailed examination of router. Debugging and
commands, as well as execution testing. File manipulation. Remote access.
of configuration and
Switch#
management commands. Router#
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Navigating the IOS
Privileged EXEC Mode
Detailed examination of router. Debugging and Router>ping 192.168.1.1
testing. File manipulation. Remote access.
Router# show running-config
Switch#
Router# Router(config)# Interface FastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0
Global Configuration Mode
Global configuration commands
Switch(config)# Switch>ping 192.168.1.1
Router(config)# Switch# show running-config
Switch(config)# Interface FastEthernet 0/1
Switch(config-if)# Description connection to NESA Lan
Other Configuration Modes
Special service or interface configurations.
Switch(config-mode)#
Router(config-mode)#
More later
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Cisco Hardware and Software
Components
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Operation of Cisco IOS Software
Operating Environment Prompt Usage
ROM monitor > or ROMMON> Failure or password recovery
Boot ROM Router(boot) Flash image upgrade
Cisco IOS Router> Normal operation
The Cisco IOS devices have three distinct operating environments or modes:
• ROM monitor
• Boot ROM
• Cisco IOS
The show flash command is used to verify that the system has sufficient memory
to load a new Cisco IOS image.
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Establishing a Terminal Session
Router
Console port
Terminal or a
PC with
Rollover cable
terminal
emulation
software
Com1 or Com2 serial port
Take the following steps to connect a terminal to the console port on
the router:
Connect the terminal using the RJ-45 to RJ-45 rollover cable and an
RJ-45 to DB-9 or RJ-45 to DB-25 adapter.
Configure the terminal or PC terminal emulation software for 9600
baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control.
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Establishing a Terminal Session
with Terraterm Pro
Important: A console
connection is not the
same as a network
connection!
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Logging into the router – more
later User Access Verification
Password:
Router> User-Mode Prompt
Navigating
Router> enable
between Password:
modes Router# Privileged-Mode Prompt
Router# disable
Router>
Router> exit
Two commands can be used to set a password used to access
privileged EXEC mode: enable password and enable secret
The following are some of the specific modes that can also be
accessed from the global configuration mode: (more later)
Interface
Line
Router
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Keyboard help in the router CLI
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Keyboard help in the router CLI
Router#
Router#cl?
clear clock
Router#clock
% Incomplete command.
Router#clock ?
set Set the time and date
Router#clock set This example is showing how to
% Incomplete command.
Router#clock set ? use the ? (help) with the IOS CLI.
hh:mm:ss Current Time
Router#clock set 08:47 ?
hh:mm:ss This would work the same with any
Router#clock set 08:47:00 command that you are using.
% Incomplete command.
Router#clock set 08:47:00 ?
<1-31> Day of the month
MONTH Month of the year
Router#clock set 08:47:00 30 03
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.
Router#clock set 08:47:00 30 March
% Incomplete command.
Router#clock set 08:47:00 30 March ?
<1993-2035> Year
Router#clock set 08:47:00 30 March 2015
Router#
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Enhanced editing commands
Command Description
Ctrl-A Moves to the beginning of the command line
Esc-B Moves back one word
Ctrl-B (or right arrow) Moves back one character
Ctrl-E Moves to the end of the command line
Ctrl-F (or left arrow) Moves forward one character
Esc-F Moves forward one word
$ indicates that there is more text to the left of the $
Ctrl-Z is a command used to back out of configuration mode. This
will return the user to the privileged EXEC mode prompt.
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Router command history
Command Description
Ctrl-P (or up arrow key) Recalls last (previous) command
Ctrl-N (or down arrow key) Recalls most recent command
Router> show history Shows command buffer
Router> terminal history size number-of-lines Sets the command history buffer size*
Router> terminal no editing Disables advanced editing features
Router> terminal editing Re-enables advanced editing
<Tab> Completes the entry
terminal history size: maximum number of commands is 256
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Troubleshooting command line
errors
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Filter Command Output
Filtering commands can be used to display specific sections of
output. To enable the filtering command, enter a pipe (|) character
after the show command and then enter a filtering parameter and a
filtering expression.
The filtering parameters that can be configured after the pipe
include:
o section - This displays the entire section that starts with the filtering expression.
o include - This includes all output lines that match the filtering expression.
o exclude - This excludes all output lines that match the filtering expression.
o begin - This displays all the output lines from a certain point, starting with the
line that matches the filtering expression.
Note: Output filters can be used in combination with
any show command.
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Resource material for PowerPoints
from:
Rick Graziani
Todd Lammle
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